All I want for Christmas...

Our Blessed Mother is such a beautiful role model for women. On many days I take pleasure in imagining her in her kitchen...with her precious (and obedient) Son... caring for Him in her quiet, humble way.

On good days, I can often imagine her in my own kitchen, caring for my own children in ways I will likely never manage.

It is on days like I had yesterday when I can scarcely imagine the Blessed Mother getting through my day, though that is not because of her shortcomings, only my weak imagination. And yesterday was only the second day of Advent.

Yesterday:

My oldest son told me that the only remaining classes he needs to graduate are not offered next semester.

And his landlord (lady) told him she needs to know by Friday if he will renew his lease for the fall (which we did not think he would need to do, but now we have no idea).

My second son took a check, made out by me, for $525, to a university leasing company to obtain a lease on an apartment for next fall. He told me his roommate would repay us the half he owes (the leasing company wanted one check).

He came home with a lease to sign, and then informed me that the supposed roommate might not be his roommate (and the $525 is non-refundable). Merry Christmas.

I went to pick my third son up from school. He had failed to mention that he had to meet with his government group after school. We waited in the car. And waited, and waited.

As soon as I walked in the door, late in getting dinner started due to "waiting," my husband called to inform me that the lights had to go up on the house "TODAY" because "it's going to rain tomorrow," he said. "Get the lights out! Plug them all in! Check to see if the clips fit on the gutters with the new gutter guards! Get the boys involved!" (Yes, they were all exclamation points. He's Type A.) Does it matter that I say every year, "Don't put lights up outside. It's too much work."?

The ladders came out. Young men went up. The 16-year-old boy got on the roof, and when he was finished putting clips on he declared he could "just jump off the roof onto the grass" and he "would be fine." I'm pretty sure if I had not be supervising he would have done just that. Body cast for Christmas?

Do you think Jesus ever attempted that stunt?

When my husband got home, he finished putting lights up...before I broke it to him about the $525, and the lease.

He flipped out. He's Type A.

There was a power point presentation due today by 16 yo boy. Neither he nor I had ever done one before. In an attempt to be less sarcastic (why start now you ask?) I will just say, "it is such a joy to learn new skills. At 10 p.m."

Just before the end of the day, moments before I slid between the sheets, I discovered the master toilet was clogged. And so I used the plunger. A fitting end to the day.

If only all the problems of the day were so easy to flush away.

Today, so far:

The dean of discipline called me from third son's school. You don't want to know.

Then I had to call my husband and tell him. He flipped out. (He's Type A.)

The appraiser hired for our home refinancing called to say he was in the neighborhood and could he just come by today instead of tomorrow. Sure. My house is always in "show" condition.

It still hasn't rained. But the outside of the house looks like Christmas Vacation.

I'm asking Santa for a prescription for valium. Maybe it will come early enough to really appreciate it.

Hail and blessed be the hour...

...and the moment,

that the son of God...

...was born of the most pure Virgin Mary...

...at midnight, in the piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe Oh My God...

hear my prayers and answer my pleas(e)...

...on the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,

and His Blessed Mother.

Amen.